Description

Baked ziti with ricotta is a decadent Italian delicacy of savory meat sauce, a delicate ricotta blend and ziti pasta secured by a melty mozzarella topping.

Ingredients

Scale

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
2 pounds ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 (24-ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
24 ounces ricotta
2 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup mozzarella, shredded
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
12 ounces ziti pasta, uncooked
2 cups mozzarella, shredded

Instructions

Preheat: Preheat oven to 350°F (177ºC).
Make Sauce: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large, high-sided skillet. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Turn heat to medium-low, add minced garlic, and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
Brown Meat: Add beef, salt, and black pepper to skillet and cook over medium heat until no longer pink; drain as needed. Stir in spaghetti sauce and add Italian seasoning.
Make Ricotta Filling: In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, nutmeg, Italian seasoning, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan.
Pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well.
Assembly: Add 1/2 cup of sauce to the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking dish and swirl to cover the bottom. Spread 1/2 of cooked pasta in the baking dish, then spoon a 1/2 of the meat sauce, then dollop 1/2 ricotta mixture, spreading it into an even layer with an offset spatula. Repeat with remaining layers, ending with ricotta mixture. Place filled baking pan on a rimmed cookie sheet.
Bake: Cover and bake for about 40 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Salt the pasta water (1-2 tablespoons per 4 quarts). Cook ziti al dente to prevent mushiness after baking. Layer in order: meat sauce on bottom, then pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta. Let the dish rest for 10-15 minutes before serving to let flavors mingle and the structure set. Use a 9×13-inch baking dish and place it on a rimmed cookie sheet to catch any spillovers.

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 924 kcal
Sugar: 15 g
Sodium: 1624 mg
Fat: 53 g
Saturated Fat: 24 g
Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 58 g
Fiber: 6 g
Protein: 53 g
Cholesterol: 206 mg

Keywords: beef, pasta, christmas, fall, ground beef, italian, Italian baked pasta, New Years Eve, Pasta, pasta fall, spaghetti, spring, winter, ziti